Remote control mechanism



May 10, 1938, E. H. WHITE REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Sept.24, 1950 Inventor Everett Hwhii'e,

-51 k? Attorney.

Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTE CONTROLMECHANISM Everett H. White, St. Paul, Minn.

4 Claims.

This application is a division of each of my two pending applicationsSerial No. 484,108, Patent No. 2,004,622 for Remote control regulatormotor,

filed September 24, 1930, and Serial No. 690,396, 5 for Oil burnercontrol, filed September 21, 1933 Patent No. 2,077,294.

The invention relates to mechanism for remotely controlling deviceswhich require motive power to effect their operation, as, for example,heating plant dampers; steam, water, oil, or gas valves; circulatingfans or blowers; and intake and mixing valves.

Mechanism for the remote control of devices operated by motive powerhave heretofore sometimes included electro-magnets as the actuatingmeans for the regulator motor switches, and sometimes included heatingelements for this same purpose. In each case where such a mechanism hasemployed an electro-magnet for actuglf-ating a regulator motor switch,the electro-mag net circuit has of necessity carried an inductiveoperating current of sufficiently large magnitude to cause arcing and tothus in time pit the more delicate types of switch elements, such astherg g' mostatic switches or devices, controlling said electro-magnetcircuit. In each case where such a mechanism has employed a heatingelement for actuating a regulator motor switch, a resistance has beenused to supply heat to an expansible 30 element, such as a thermostaticor bimetallic blade, or a chemically charged diaphragm, in the regulatormotor circuit, with a consequent objectionable slowness of action of theregulator motor switch due to the fact that the electrical current 35-has had to be applied to said resistance and the resultant heattransferred from the resistance to the expansible element by absorption.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrically operatedmechanism for the remote con- 40 trol of a device operated by motivepower, which will include a thermal starting switch of novel andimproved construction for the regulator motor controlling said device.

Another object is to provide a non-inductive 45 thermal starting switchfor the regulator motor of a device to be remotely controlled, whichthermal starting switch can be operated by an electrical current ofinsufficient capacity to cause arcing tending to pit or otherwise marinstru- 50 ments, such, for example, as thermostatic elements orswitches, incorporating delicate and fine electrical contacts andincluded in an electrical circuit controlling said thermal startingswitch.

And yet another object is to provide a thermal 55 starting switch forthe regulator motor of a device to be remotely controlled, which thermalstarting switch will be directly responsive in its operation toexpanding and contracting actions of a resistance element of saidthermal starting switch, whereby to eliminate necessity for transfer ofheat by absorption to the starting switch as heretofore required inmechanisms employing heating elements for actuating motor switches.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear asthe specification proceeds, 10 the invention comprises theconstruction,arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fullydescribed and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it beingunderstood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative andintended in no 1 way in a limiting sense, changes in details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long aswithin the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims whichfollow.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view disclosing a wiring system for a remotecontrol mechanism made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the thermal starting switch of theregulator motor of the remote control mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the thermal starting switch as seen from abovein Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring systern for a remote controlmechanism of modified construction including the features of theinvention;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified type of thermal startingswitch included in the regulator motor of the remote control mechanismof Fig.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the thermal starting switch of Fig. 5,as seen from the side opposite that shown in said Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line ll in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken as on line 8--8 in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the movable blade of the thermal startingswitch of Figs. 5 to 8, showing said blade partially sectioned andpartially broken away.

The proposition of employing an expansible and contractible resistanceelement; that is, a wire; in a remote circuit for the control of adevice requiring motive power to effect its operation is fraught withdiificulties when the remote circuit includes fine and delicatecontacts. A relatively short resistance wire of length to be employed tocontrol an electric switch of suitable and practical size to go into aremote control mechanism of practical and commercial proportions must ofcourse be of cross-sectional area and strength to withstand the workrequired of an expansible and contractible resistance elementfunctioning as the control of an electric switch, and must in use beexpanded and contracted a considerable amount to properly andsatisfactorily control the movable contact element of an electricswitch. That is, said movable contact element must have a sufficientlylong throw to cause it to be suitably spaced from the fixed contactelement of an electric switch when in open position. A relatively shortlength of wire, or relatively short, separate lengths of wire, may, whenof sufficient crosssectional area to do the work, constitute anexpansible and contractible resistance element for controlling anelectric switch, which switch in turn controls a circuit including amotor for operating a device requiring motive power to effect itsoperation, but such a resistance element is unsuitable for use in acircuit including fine and delicate contacts. The amount of electricalpower, or volts times amperes, or roughly, watts, permitted to passthrough a circuit including fine and delicate contacts must be of quitelimited, not too high, capacity, if pitting of said contacts, due toarcing when the contacts engage each other and disengage, is to beprevented. The circuit must also, at the same time, have potential orvoltage of sufficiently great capacity to insure proper conductivity ofcurrent through the contacts when these engage each other.

Assuming a circuit, or, more specifically, assuming a circuit includingfine and delicate contacts which are not to be pitted by arcing at thecontacts and also including an expansible and contractible resistancewire, to be impressed with a fixed and suitable amount of electricalpower, or volts times amperes, or watts, the relative electrical valuesin said circuit, expressed in volts, amperes and resistance, are naturalvalues. That is, with increase of resistance in said resistance wire,the voltage in the circuit increases and the amperage decreases, andwith decrease of resistance in the resistance wire, the voltagedecreases and the amperage increases.

It has been found that an expansible and contractible resistance wire orelement under a certain, comparatively great, length and of sufficientcross-sectional area to be strong enough to manipulate an electricswitch, does not possess surficient electrical resistance forsatisfactory use in a circuit having fine and delicate contacts andimpressed with an amount of electrical power of insufficient capacity topit, burn, or mar said contacts. The relative electrical values in sucha circuit as just mentioned, including a resistance wire or element ofrelatively short length, resolve themselves naturally so that theoperating voltage in the circuit is entirely too low for suitable andcommercial operation of the remote control mechanism. To increase thewattage, or volts times amperes, is to pit, burn, or mar the contacts,and to increase the cross-sectional area of the resistance wire is todecrease the resistance and still further lower the voltage. In short,to provide a workable arrangement, for a circuit having fine anddelicate contacts, a resistance wire or element of comparatively greatlength, sufiicient to obtain sufficiently great and proper resistancefor operation at practical voltage, must be employed. Or, stateddifferently, in order to keep the wattage, or volts times amperes, in aremote control circuit including fine and delicate contacts at lowenough value to effectively avoid pitting, burning or marring of thecontacts, resistance wire of a comparatively great length is required.In practice, the comparatively great length of ex pansible andcontractible resistance wire necessary to be utilized in any instanceis, at least ordinarily, too long to stretch out in a single length whenemployed in an electric switch of suitable size to go into a remotecontrol mechanism of commercial proportions, but by looping theresistance wire, in the manner as will be hereinafter set forth, saidwire can be confined to a degree where it is conveniently andpracticably usable in the electric switch of any commercial remotecontrol mechanism.

A broader aspect of the invention is, then, to provide, in a remotecircuit having fine and delicate contacts, a resistance wire or elementof sufiiciently great length to obtain proper resistance in the circuitfor operation at practical voltage to avoid pitting, burning or marringof said contacts, it having been discovered that a resistance wire orelement in a circuit including fine and delicate contacts is required tohave especial characteristics, while a more specific aspect of theinvention is to provide a thermal starting switch which will include aresistance wire or element of comparatively great length associated withthe thermal starting switch in novel and improved manner to render theswitch commercially usable.

With respect to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing and the numerals ofreference thereon, l represents a regulator motor which may be appliedto regulate any device requiring motive power to effect its operation,as, for example, heating plant dampers, valves controlling flow ofsteam, water, oil, gas, or other fluids; circulating fans or blowers;and intake and mixing valves.

An ordinary thermostatic element II, in remote relation to the regulatormotor Ill and the device to be regulated, is shown as a means foractuating a thermal starting switch l2 for said regulator motor, but, aswill become obvious, different actuating means, such as mechanicallypropelled elements, for the thermal starting switch can be substitutedfor the thermostatic element illustrated.

The regulator motor l0 includes a driven or actuating shaft l3, which issuitably mounted in a casing 14 for the regulator motor, carrying crankarms l5 and it at its opposite ends and disposed outside of the casingl4, said crank arms l5 and it desirably extending in straightanglerelation to each other. Each arm 15 and HS carries an outwardlyextending headed pin, denoted i1 and I8, respectively, the pins 11 andi8 being adapted for convenient attachment to a device to be regulated.

It might be stated by way of example that when the crank arms l5 and i6are in one of their positions, one element of a device to be controlled,say a draft damper of a furnace, could be com pletely closed, as bygravity, and another element of said device, say a check damper of thefurnace, could be held wide open. When the positions of the crank armsare reversed, the first mentioned element could be held. wide open andthe second mentioned element could be completely closed, as by gravity.When the crank arms l5 and I6 are disposed between their extremepositions as set forth, both of the elements of the device to becontrolled, a furnace as stated, could be held partially open to extentsdepending will be evident.

It is the function of the thermostatic element l I, or other remoteactuating means (not shown) to close an electrical circuit controllingthe thermal starting switch |2, which switch in turn closes a circuitincluding the regulator motor ID to cause said regulator motor to beoperated in response to the closing of the electrical circuitcontrolling said thermal starting switch |2, to situate the driven oractuating shaft |3 in one of the several positions the crank arms l5 andI6 are intended to assume.

An electric motor I9 is drivingly connected by reducing gearing (notshown) to the driven or actuating shaft I3, and said shaft |3 carries acircuit breaker drum 20 which is suitably insulated from the shaft asindicated at 2|. A circuit breaker consists of a number of conductingclips 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, and the conducting clips 22, 23, 24, and25 are raised and lowered, as the drum rotates, by small insulatingbuttons 21 upon the circuit breaker drum, there being at least oneinsulating button 21 for each clip 22, 23, 24, and 25. Said clips 22,23, 24, and 25 are connected to terminals 28, 29, 39, and 3|,respectively.

A motor switch consists essentially of two blades, designated 32 and 33,the blade 32, together with other elements to be described, constitutingthe thermal starting switch l2. Incoming wires 34 and 35 lead to themotor. As shown, the wire 34 is connected to the motor switch blade 33while the wire 35 is connected to a wire 36 leading to one side of theprimary 31 of a transformer 38 and to a wire 39 leading to one side ofthe motor I9. The other side of the primary 31 is connected by a wire 48to a sta tionary contact 4| for the blade 33, and the other side of themotor I9 is connected by a wire 42 with the blade 32 of the motorswitch.

One side of the secondary 43 of the transformer 38 is connected by alead wire 44 with a terminal 45, while the other side of said secondaryis connected by a lead wire 46 with one terminal 41 of a resistor 48 ofthe thermal starting switch I2 and supported upon the motor switch blade32. The terminal 49 of the resistor 48 opposite the lead wire 46 isconnected by means of a lead wire 50 with a terminal 5| for theconducting clip 26. The blade 33 is insulatively attached as at 52 upona support 53 in the casing M. A resilient finger 54 attached to saidsupport at 55 carries an insulating protuberance 56 movable in anopening through said support 53, and said finger also carries aprojection 51 ridable in slots or openings 58 in a gear 59 fixed to thedriven or actuating shaft l3 and driven by the motor l9 through thereducing gearing.

When the electric motor I9 is at rest, the blades 32 and 33 arepositioned as in Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that whenever currentflows in the resistor 48, the blade 32 moves to the right in said Fig. 1and makes contact with the blade 33. Said blade 33 is operated by thegear 59. The slots or openings 58, which are placed in said gear 59 atproper intervals, allow the resilient blade 33 to move to the right inFig. 1 as said slots or openings 58 pass under the projection 51. Atother times, said projection 51 rides on the face of the gear 59 tocause the blade 33 to engage the blade 32 but to be flexed or bent abouta contact 12 at the lower end of said blade 32 to remove the lowerportion of said blade 33 from the stationary contact 4| and thus breakelectrical engagement between the blade 33 and said stationary contact.

The resistor 48 desirably consists of a single strand of suitable wireof relatively fine dimension having its end portions attached to theterminals 41 and-49, respectively, mounted upon an insulating block 60itself conveniently carried in the casing l4, adjacent the blade 33,upon a support 6| in spaced relation to the support 53. The support 6|may also carry the stationary contact 4|. The intermediate portion ofthe wire strand resistor 48 extends back and forth across the outer faceof a mica sheet 62 conveniently fixed, as at 63, to the face of theblade 32 opposite the blade 33, and outer parts of said intermediateportion of the Wire strand, in spaced relation to the terminals 41 and49, are rigidly attached to a small insulating block 64 itself suit ablyfastened, as at 65, to the outer free end portion of the blade 32,against the face thereof opposite the blade 33. More specifically, theinsulating block 60 supports a series of alining, spaced apart metalliclugs or posts 66, and the insulating block 64 supports a similar seriesdesirably including an equal number or alining, spaced apart metalliclugs or posts 61, about all of which lugs or posts 66 and 61 the wirestrand is successively wound. In the manufacture of the thermal startingswitch |2, an end of the wire strand resistor 48 thereof may be firstattached to a terminal 41 or 49, an adjacent portion of said wire strandmay then be wound one or more times about an outermost lug or post 66,then the next adjacent portion of the wire strand may be wound about anoutermost lug or post 61, then about the lug or post 66 next adjacentone already wired, then about the lug or post 61 next adjacent onealready wired, and so on, until the lugs or posts are all wired, andfin.- ally the wire strand may be attached to the other terminal 49 or41.

The blade 32 is conveniently pivoted to the insulating block 68, as by asmall shaft 68 which passes through ears upon said blade 32 and saidinsulating block 60, and a coil spring 69 upon the small shaft 68includes a projecting end 10 in engagement with the insulating block 60and a projecting end 1| in engagement with the blade 32, the function ofsaid coil spring and its projecting ends 19 and 1| being to urge saidblade 32 to swing on its axis toward the blade 33, whereby the contact12 of the blade 32 can engage the blade 33. Each length of the wirestrand resistor 48 is taut or tensioned between the lugs or posts 66 and61 to normally hold the blade 32, against the action of the coil spring69, out of engagement with the blade 33, and so that said blade 32 andthe insulating block 64 thereon will desirably be in approximatealinement with the insulating block 60, and the wire strand resistor 48,evidently non-inductive, is composed of material having a coefficient ofexpansion sufficiently great to cause immediate lengthening of said wirestrand resistor to an extent to allow the contact 12 to engage the blade33 immediately when only a very small charge of electricity is appliedto said resistor in a manner to be explained. In practice, applicationto said resistor of four watts, or even less, of operating current isquite sufiicient to cause engagement between the blades 32 and 33.

The regulator motor operates in the manner as follows. As shown in Fig.1, said regulator motor is in an inoperative position indicated by theconductor clip 25 which is separated from the circuit breaker drum 20 byan insulating button 21. When connection is now made from the terminal45 to any one of the terminals 28, 29, or 30, the secondary circuit ofthe transformer is closed through the resistor 48, which allows theblade 32 to move to the right, in the manner as set forth, and makecontact with the blade 33 at 12. This closes the circuit to the electricmotor l9, which sets the gear 55 and the circuit breaker drum 20 inmotion. The circuit through the resistor 48 is from the secondary 43 ofthe transformer through the lead wire 55 to said resistor, from theresistor by lead wire 5G to the conductor clip 26 through the terminal5|, through the circuit breaker drum Zli and to the terminal 45 by theparticular connection made, and back to the secondary 4-3 through leadwire 44. The motor circuit is from lead wire 34 to the blade 33, tocontact 72 and blade 32, through lead wire 42 to the motor l5, and bylead wire 39 to lead wire 35. As soon as the gear 59 starts to rotate,it causes the projection 5! upon the finger 54 to ride up out of thecorresponding slot or opening 58 and force the blade 33 to the left inFig. 1, to hold engagement between the blades 32 and 33 and breakengagement between the blade 33 and the stationary contact 4!. Thebreaking of engagement between the blade 33 and the stationary contact4! opens the primary side of the transformer and cuts the current off ofthe resistor 48, as will be apparent. The electric motor operates untilthe projection 57 drops into the next slot of opening 58 in the gear 59.The control motor will then stop if it is in the position called for bythe particular connection made between the terminal 45 and one of theterminals 28, 29, or 36. If the regulator motor is not in such position,the cycle will be repeated. That is to say, if the terminal 45 isconnected to the terminal 29, for example, the motor will operate untilthe clip 23 is raised by an insulating button on the circuit breakerdrum 20. The driven or actuating shaft l3 will remain in the position atwhich thus set by the motor until connection is made between saidterminal 45 and one of the other terminals 28, 39 or 3|.

The thermostatic element H, which is a bimetallic blade, includes alower portion adapted to wipe over spaced apart terminals, designated13, 14, 15, and i6. Lead wires l7, l8, l9, and 853 connect the terminals28 and i3, 29 and i4, 39 and 15, and SI and 16, respectively. Theterminal 45 is connected to the bimetallic element H by a lead wire 8!.

In Fig. 1 the conductor clip 25 is shown resting upon its correspondinginsulating button 21, the crank arm 15 extends vertically upward, andthe crank arm It extends vertically downward. Let it be supposed thatthis arrangement allows the draft damper of a furnace to be completelyclosed and causes the check damper of said furnace to be Wide open. Tocause the regulator motor to assume the position as just recited, thebimetallic blade had to contact with the terminal l6, and after saidblade I l and said terminal l6 engaged each other, the regulator motorremained in this positioncalled for by the thermostat ii, unless anduntil said thermostat engaged one of the other terminals l3, 14, or l5.When said thermostat ll engages one of said other terminals, electricconnection is made between the terminal 45 and a terminal 28, 29, or 38,as the case may be. Supposing that with the regulator motor positionedas in Fig. l, the bimetallic blade H next engages the terminal 13,electric connection is made from the terminal 45 to the terminal 28through the lead wire al, the blade H, said terminal 13, and the leadWire l'l. Such connection causes the regulator motor to advance and tostop, in the manner as already set forth, when the conductor clip 22rides its corresponding insulating button 27. As disclosed, theinsulating button 21 which is beneath the conductor clip 22 is disposedupon the circuit breaker drum 2!! at location diametrically opposite theinsulating button 2? beneath the conductor clip- 25, so that when theshaft it stops at position where the corresponding insulating button 2'!elevates the conductor clip 22 from the circuit breaker drum 2!], thedraft damper is held Wide open and the check damper is completely closedby gravity. The regulator motor again remains stationary until the bladeH contacts with one of the terminals 14, 15, or it, and when the newcontact is made, the regulator motor advances and stops at thecorresponding position. As shown, there is a single insulating buttonfor each of the conductor clips 22 and 25 and desirably two insulatingbuttons for each of the conducting clips 23 and 24, the insulatingbuttons for said conductor clip 23 desirably being set at about 70 fromthe insulating button for the conductor clip 22, at opposite sidesthereof, and the insulating buttons for said conductor clip 24 desirablybeing set at about 70 from the insulating button for the conductor clip25, at opposite sides thereof, so that insulating buttons for theconductor clips 23 and 24 and at the same side of the circuit breakerdrum are desirably spaced about 40 apart. For each insulating button 2"!there is a corresponding slot or opening 53 in the gear 59. The purposeof the pair of insulating buttons 21 for the conductor clips 23 and 2d,respectively, will be obvious. The conductor clip 23 is for causing theregulator motor to be positioned to situate the crank arms in one of twopositions either of which can cause both the draft and check damper of afurnace, for example, to be partially open. The conductor clip 24 is forcausing the regulator motor to be positioned to situate the crank armsin one of two positions, different from the positions determined by theconductor clip 23, either of which can cause both said draft and checkdamper to be partially open to degree diiferent from that determined bysaid conductor clip 23. The spacing of the insulating buttons 21 asillustrated and described can cause a draft damper and check damper of afurnace to be manipulated from open to closed and from closed to openposition in equal step by step stages. That is, the arrangementdisclosed can control draft and check dampers each capable of havingfour stationary positions, including a closed condition, a wide opencondition, a two-thirds open condition, and a one-third open condition.It could of coin'se be the function of a mechanically propelled element,substituted for the element ii, to successively make connection betweenthe terminal 45 and each of terminals, such as 28, 29, 3B, and 3!, or agreater or a less number than four terminals, to cause an electricmotor, such as H], to be successively operated to advance the driven oractuating shaft l3 step by step and cause it to stop after advanced, andthus sequentially position manipulating elements, such as the crank armsl5 and I6, associated with said driven or actuating shaft I 3 tosuccessively situate operating elements of a mechanism to be controlled76 at locations necessary to the carrying out automatically of relatedsteps in said mechanism to the performance of an intended function orresult, as will be understood.

In any event, manipulating elements suitable to a particular purpose canbe substituted for the crank arms I5 and I6, it being apparent thatdifferent types of devices, such as valves, blowers, etc., to beremotely controlled and requiring motive power to effect theiroperation, may have to be associated with the driven or actuating shaft,such as I3, of a regulator motor in a manner entirely different fromthat of associating a draft damper and a check damper with the driven oractuating shaft I3 as illustrated and described.

It will be appreciated that the employment of a thermal starting switch,such as I2, which is directly responsive in its operation to expandingand contracting action of a resistance element, such as 48, itselfexpanding and contracting immediately upon receiving flow of current,makes provision in the present electrically operated mechanism forefficient operation of a regulator motor circuit control switchpractically instantaneously with the closing of the circuit controllingsaid thermal starting switch. Employment of the non-inductive resistanceelement 48, in the manner as fully set forth, allows operation of thethermal starting switch by means of a controlling circuit therefor whichincorporates very fine and delicate contacts, for the reason that theoperating'current required by the resistance element to accomplishactuation of the thermal starting switch of the invention does not haveto exceed four watts,- which, flowing through a non-inductive circuit,causes practically no arcing whatever at controlling instrumentcontacts, such as those made between the terminals I3, I4, I5, and I6and the bimetallic blade II. The arrangement as herein illustrated anddescribed is a great and valuable improvement over arrangementsheretofore in vogue for such work as temperature regulation and humiditycontrol, and the present general arrangement is also being found to beinvaluable for a variety of other uses.

The resistance element or wire 48 will of course in each installation beof comparatively great length, sufficient to obtain proper resistancefor operation at practical voltage and wattage, insuring that fine anddelicate contacts in a circuit having said resistance element or wirewill not become pitted, burned or marred because of arcing at saidcontacts, as hereinbefore fully set forth. The resistance wire employedobviously renders a thermal starting switch capable of beingcommercially used when the resistance Wire is looped and assembled inthe switch in the manner as illustrated and described.

Attention is called to the fact that by adding or subtracting circuitbreaker clips and control and regulator circuit terminals, the number ofstops of the regulator motor can be increased or decreased withoutnecessity for material changes in the general mechanism.

In Figs. 4 to 9 of the drawing there is disclosed'a modified type ofremote control mechanlsm incorporating the features of the invention.With respect to said Figs. 4 to 9, numeral 90 represents a regulatormotor for the same general purpose as the regulator motor I0 alreadydescribed.

An ordinary thermostat 9|, in remote relation to the regulator motor 90and the device to be regulated, is for actuating a thermal startingswitch 92 for said regulator motor 90.

The regulator motor 90 includes a driven or actuating shaft 93 which maybe mounted in a casing (not shown) for the regulator motor, in about themanner as set forth in connection with the driven or actuating shaft I3.The driven or actuating shaft 93 may carry one or more crank arms (notshown) such as I5 and I6.

As stated in connection with the thermostatic element I I, thethermostatic element 9| closes an electrical circuit controlling thethermal starting switch 92, which switch 92 in turn closes a. circuitincluding the regulator motor 90 to cause said regulator motor to beoperated in response to the closing of the electrical circuitcontrolling said thermal starting switch 92, to situate the driven oractuating member 93 in one of several positions said driven or actuatingmember, or the crank arms thereon, is intended to assume. In thedisclosure as made, the driven or actuating member 93 is adapted toassume but two positions, corresponding to the extreme positions in Fig.1, but said driven or actuating member 93 in the present embodiment ofthe invention could assume additional positions, as. stated inconnection with said Fig. l, by adding circuit breaker clips and controland regulator circuit terminals.

An electric motor 94 is drivingly connected by reducing gearing (notshown) to the driven or actuating shaft 93, and said shaft carries acircuit breaker drum 95 which is suitably insulated from the shaft asindicated at 96. A circuit breaker consists of. a number of conductingclips 91, 98, and 99, and the conducting clips 91 and 90 are raised andlowered, as the drum rotates, by small insulating buttons I00 upon thecircuit breaker drum 95.

A motor switch consists of a pair of screw contacts IOI and I02insulatively assembled as at I03 with a base I04 suitably fixed in thecasing for the regulator motor, and a double contact element I05 carriedby a movable blade I06 pivotally supported upon the base I04 as at IN.The double contact element I 05 includes spaced apart contactors I08 andI09 adapted to engage the screw contacts WI and I02, respectively. Themovable blade I06 is equivalent to the blade 32 of Figs. 1 to 3.

Incoming wires I I0 and II I lead to a transformer H2, and wires H3 andH4 lead from the secondary I I5 of the transformer to the motor 94. Asshown, the wire I I3 is. connected to a wire I I6 leading to one side ofthe motor, and the wire I I4 is connected to a wire III leading to thescrew contact IOI. A wire IIB leads from the screw contact I02 to themotor 94.

A lead wire I I9 extends from the lead wire I I6 to the thermostaticelement 9I, and a lead wire I20 extends from the lead wire I I4 to oneterminal I2I of a resistor I22 of. the thermal starting switch 92 andsupported upon the movable switch blade I06. The terminal I23 of theresistor I22 opposite the lead wire I20 is connected by means of a leadwire I24 with the conductor clip 99. The terminals I2I and I23 areinsulatively attached to the base I04 as at I25.

The double contact element I05 with contactors I08 and I09 cooperateswith the screw contacts IM and I02, in a manner to be described, toprovide a switch for closing a circuit through the electric motor 94. Asecond switch for closing a different circuit through said electricmotor 94 includes a stationary contact element I26 and a movable contactelement I2I insulated from each other as at I28, and insulativelymounted, as in the casing (not shown) for the regulator motor. Aresilient finger I29, insulatively supported as at its, upon or adjacentto the movable contact element I21, carries an insulating boss I3Iadapted to engage said movable contact element 2i, and said finger I29also carries a projection 32 ridable in slots or openings I33 in a gearI34 fixed to the driven or actuating shaft 93 and driven by the motor 94through the reducing gearing.

As disclosed, the movable blade i135 insulatively supports, as at I ashaft I36 extending longitudinally from the free end of said movableblade I96, and an intermediate portion of the double contact element I65is rotatably mounted upon said shaft I36. The shaft carries a coilspring i3? one end I38 of which engages the double contact element IE5and the other end of which engages an insulated part upon the movableblade I06 to hold the contactor tilt of said double contact element inengagement with the screw contact I02 and the contactor Hi2 of thedouble contact element out of engagement with the screw contact I9I.

When the electric motor 94 is at rest, the movable blade ass and thedouble contact element lilii pivoted thereon are positioned as in thedrawing, with the elements I02 and I09 in engagement and the elementsIill and res separated. When current fiows in the resistor I22, themovable blade moves to the right in 4i and the contactor 568 makesengagement with the screw contact iiii. This action is caused by thetension of a coil spring M9 attached to the base I04 as at MM and to themovable blade IP36 as at i l-2. The current flowing in the resistor E22causes this to lengthen, and the coil spring it?) acts against thetendency of the weaker coil spring i371 to cause said contactor N38 toengage said screw contact iili.

The movable contact element I2'l is operated by the gear i349. The slotsor openings I33, which are placed in said gear I34 at proper intervals,allow said movable contact element I2? to move to the right in Fig. i,and away from the stationary contact element I26, as said slots oropenings I33 pass under the projection i552. At other times, saidprojection 53?! rides on the face of the gear 534 to cause the movablecontact element I2? to engage the stationary contact element I25.

A lead wire M3 connects the lead wire I20 with the stationary contactelement I26, and a lead wire i i-4 connects the movable contact element.522 with the lead wire I iii.

The resistor I22 is a single strand of wire, of the same nature as theresistor A8, having its end portions attached to the terminals HI andrespectively, which have been described hereinbefore as insulativelymounted upon the base lot. The intermediate portion of the wire strandresistor E22 extends back and for 11 over two mica sheets, denoted M5and M6, respectively, as well as over the body of the movable blade I96.The mica sheet M5 is suitably secured to said base ltd and the micasheet is suitably secured to said movable blade I The body of themovable blade is offset, as at Ml, to be separated from the parts of thewire strand resistor extending between the mica sheets. As disclosed,the terminals I25 and 523- secure the mica sheet M5 to the base ills,and screws M8 which attach the insulating block I35 to the movable bladeI06 secure the mica sheet i lii to said movable blade. The mica sheet545 supports a series of alining, spaced apart metallic lugs or postsI49, and the mica sheet I46 supports a similar series desirablyincluding an equal number of alining, spaced apart metallic lugs orposts IEO, about all of which lugs or posts I iil and Mid the wirestrand is successively wound. The metal of the base I04 and of themovable blade 566 is cut away, as at I5I, about the lugs or posts 589and I53 to be clear thereof. In the manufacture of the thermal startingswitch 92, an end of the wire strand resistor I22 thereof may be firstattached to a terminal i2i or 623, an adjacent portion of said wirestrand may then be wound one or more times about an outermost lug ofpost I49, then the next adjacent portion of the wire strand may be woundabout an outermost lug or post I50, then about the lug or post I 49 nextadjacent one already wired, then about the lug or post I50 next adjacentone already wired, and so on, until the lugs or posts are all wired, andfinally the wire strand may be attached to the other terminal I 23 ori2I. Preferably, after the wire strand is so assembled in the structure,insulating cement I52 is placed in the openings I5I, as well as aboutthe lugs or posts I49 and I50 at the faces of the mica sheets I45 andI46 opposite said openings IEI. The insulating cement I52 evidentlyinsures that the metallic lugs or posts will remain in fixed position.

The regulator motor 90 is in an inoperative position indicated by theconductor clip 98 which is separated from the circuit breaker drum 95 byan insulating button I09. When connection is now made from the lead wireII9 to the conductor clip 91, or to any conductor clip for the circuitbreaker drum 95, a circuit is closed through the secondary H5 and, theresistor I22, which allows the movable blade I06 to move to the right inFig. 4, so that the contactor I08 engages the screw contact IOI, in themanner as described. This closes a circuit through the electric motor94, which sets the gear I34 and the circuit breaker drum 95 in motion.The circuit through the resistor I22 is from the secondary N5 of thetransformer through the lead wires II 4 and I 20 to said resistor, fromthe re sistor by lead wire I24 to the conductor clip 99, through thecircuit breaker drum 95 and to the lead wire I I9 by the particularconnection made, as, for example, through the conductor clip 91, or someother conductor clip (not shown), and back to the secondary H5 throughthe lead wire H3. The motor circuit is from the secondary H5 throughlead wires H4 and II! to the screw contact IOI, thence through thedouble contact element I05 and the contactors I08 and I09 thereof to thescrew contact I02, thence through lead wire II8 to said motor 94, andback to the secondary through lead wires H6 and H3. As soon as the gearI34 starts to rotate, it causes the projection I32 upon the finger I29to ride up out of the corresponding slot or opening I33 and force themovable contact element I21 into engagement with the stationary contactelement I26, and hold the motor switch including said contact elementsI26 and I2! closed. When the elements I26 and I2! are engaged, a circuitfor the motor is from the secondary II 5 through lead Wires II4, I20 andI43 to the stationary contact element I 26, thence through the movablecontact element I21 and lead Wires I44 and I I8 to said motor 94, andthence back to said secondary H5 through leadwires H6 and H3. Theelectric motor will operate until the projection I32 drops into the nextslot or opening I33 in the gear I34. The control motor will then stop ifit is in position called for by the particular connection made betweenthe conductor clip 99 and lead wire H9. If the regulator motor is not insuch position, the cycle will be repeated. In the disclosure as made,including but two conductor clips 91 and 98, there is but one connectionwhich can be made after the regulator motor has been in inoperativeposition. The above remarks assume a number of conductor clips, such as91 and. 98, greater than two to be employed. After any conductor clip,such as 91 or 98, is raised by its insulating button, such as I00, thedriven or actuating shaft 93 will remain in the corresponding positionuntil connection is made between line wire I I9 and a conductor clipwhich is not held raised by its insulating button.

The thermostatic element 9|, which is a bimetallic blade, includes alower portion adapted to engage spaced apart terminals indicated I53 andI54. A lead wire I55 extends between the conductor clip 91 and theterminal I53, and a lead wire I56 extends between the conductor clip 98and the terminal I54.

To cause the regulator motor to assume its position as in Fig. 4, thebimetallic blade 9I had to contact with the terminal I54, and after saidblade 9I and said terminal engaged each other, the regulator motorremained in this position called for by the thermostat 9|, unless anduntil said thermostat engaged the terminal I53. When the thermostatengages the terminal I53, electric connection is made between the leadwire II 9 and the conductor clip 91 through the blade 9|, said terminalI53 and lead wire I55. Such connection causes the regulator motor toadvance and to stop, in the manner as described, when the conductor clip91 rides its corresponding insulating button I00. The insulating buttonbeheath the conductor clip 91 is disposed upon the circuit breaker drum95 at location diametrically opposite the insulating button beneath theconductor clip 98.

The contactors I08 and I09 of the double contact element I05 .and thescrew contacts IOI and I02 which said contactors I08 and I09,respectively, engage, are all adapted to be conductively connected in acircuit including the electric motor 94, as before set forth. Thus theremay at times be tendency for the elements IN and I08 to stick together,due to a certain amount of arcing at said elements caused by relativelyheavy current in the electric motor circuit. In case there is suchtendency toward sticking together of said elements IOI and I08 when themovable blade I06 swings away from the base I04, the contactor I09 ofthe double contact element I05 will, obviously, be easily and readilyremoved from the screw contact I02 to positively break the motor circuitthrough the screw contacts IOI and I02 and the double contact elementI05, and a rocking action will as a result of the removal of saidcontactor I09 away from said screw contact I02 be imparted to saiddouble contact element I05, which rocking action will cause thecontactor I08 to have a rocking or rolling action tending to remove saidcontactor I08 from the screw contact IOI, rather than a direct liftingaction or movement as would be the case were the special type of doublecontact element I05 as illustrated and described not employed.

The portion of the present application relating to the resistor 48 ofthe thermal starting switch I2, etc., is derived from my applicationSerial No. 484,108, filed September 24, 1930, Patent No. 2,004,622,while the portion of the instant case relating to the double contactelement I05, etc., is derived from my application Serial No. 690,396,filed September 21, 1933, Patent No. 2,077,294.

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal switch including a switch member to be actuated, asupporting member for said switch member, an expansible .andcontractible resistance element attached to said supporting member andsaid switch member, said resistance element comprising a continuousstrand of material, spaced apart anchors carried by said supportingmember, and spaced apart anchors carried by said switch member, saidcontinuous strand of material including portions thereof engaged withsaid anchors carried by said supporting member and said switch member,respectively, and providing separate lengths of said strand arrangedadjacent each other and each extending between an anchor upon saidsupporting member and an anchor upon said switch member, said switchmember having potential for limited movement in one direction when theresistance element becomes expanded, and said resistance element havingpotential for imparting limited movement in opposite direction to saidswitch member when said resistance element becomes contracted.

2. A thermal switch including a switch member to be actuated, asupporting member for said switch member, an expansible and contractibleresistance element attached to said supporting member and said switchmember, said resistance element comprising a continuous strand of wire,a sheet of mica carried by said supporting mem-- ber, a set of spacedapart anchors carried by said sheet of mica in spaced relation to saidsupporting member, a second sheet of mica carried by said switch member,a set of spaced apart anchors carried by said second sheet of mica inspaced relation to said switch member, said continuous strand of wireincluding portions thereof engaged with said anchors carried by saidsheet of mica and said second sheet of mica, respectively, and providingspaced apart lengths of said strand arranged adjacent each other andeach extending between an anchor carried by said sheet of mica and ananchor carried by said second sheet of mica, said switch member havingpotential for limited movement in one direction when the resistanceelement becomes expanded, and said resistance element having potentialfor imparting limited movement in opposite direction to said switchmember when said resistance element become contracted, and insulatingcement securing each set of anchors to the mica sheet by which carried,all of said anchors being embedded in insulating cement.

3. An electric switch comprising a pair of relatively movable entities,a pair of spaced apart, relatively fixed contact elements carried by oneof said entities and insulated from each other, a contact memberpivotally supported upon the other entity and having a contactor ateither side of its pivotal support, said contact member being adapted tobridge said contact elements by engagement of each of said contactorswith a different one of the contact elements, means resiliently holdingone of said contactors in en gagement with one of said contact elementsand the other contactor in spaced relation to the other contact element,and means for actuating said entities toward and away from each other tocause said other contactor and said other contact element to becomeengaged and disengaged.

4. An electric switch comprising a stationary entity, a movable entity,a pair of spaced apart, relatively fixed contact elements carried by oneof said entities and insulated from each other, a contact memberpivotally supported upon the other entity and having a contactor ateither side of its pivotal support, said contact member being adapted tobridge said contact elements by engagement of each of said contactorswith a different one of the contact elements, means resiliently holdingone of said contactors in en- EVERETT I-I. WHITE.

